Fence-building machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. .T. PAIRBURN.

FENCE BUILDING MACHINE. No. 332,600. Patented Dec. 15, 1-885.

WUTJVESSES I JJVVL'EJVTQRI I UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JAMES T. FAIRBURN, OF MORRILLTON, ARKANSAS.

FENCE-BUILDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,600, dated December 15,1885.

Application filed June 10, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES T. FAIRBURN, a citizen of the United States, and a residentof Morrillton, in the county of Conway and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Building Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable "others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a side view showing a section of fence in process of construction by my improved fence-making machine or apparatus. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the same, and Fig. 3 is alongitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line a; a: in Fig. 2.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to an improved machine or apparatus for constructing or building that kind of fences which are generally known as combined wire-and-picket fences, and it has for its object to provide a machine of this class which shall possess superior advantagesin point of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency, by means of which fences of the class referred to may be easily and inexpensively built and put up, and by means of which the wires, of any desired length, may be stretched and held taut.

Vith these ends in view the invent-ion consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, A designates a frame consisting of side pieces, 13 B, connected by cross-pieces O O, the lower one of which is provided with a perforation, D, through which a stake, E, may be driven into the ground for the purpose of holding the device securely in position for operation, and the upper one of which is raised upon supporting'legs S S.

F F designate cylindrical rollers, which are journaled in the side pieces, B, of the frame A, as shown, and which are provided with transverse openings or perforations G, to receive the ends of levers I, by means of which they may be readily manipulated. These levers will also serve as stops by resting upon or abutting against the front cross-piece, C, orin the case of the rear roller against the front roller to prevent the said rollers from revolving in a reverse direction after they have been tightened, as will be hereinafter set forth.

H H designate the wire-guides, which consist of blocks of wood, metal, or other suitable material, the front ends of which are provided with longitudinal slots J, intersected by transverse pins or pegs K K, inserted through suitable openings formed in the said blocks transversely to the slots J. These blocks are connected by means of swivel-links L to the ends of the ropes or chains M, which are wound upon the rollers F F, which may be revolved by means of their levers, so as to tighten the said ropes.

N N designate fence-posts, which are arranged in a line,and which are to beset in the ground in the usual manner.

In the construction of the fence two pairs of wires are usually employed-although three or more pairs may be employed, when desired, Without departing from the spirit of the invention, the only changes necessitated thereby being the addition ofa roller, 1+,and a block,H, for each additionalpair ofwires thus employed.

In operation the wires are rove through the blocks H, as shown, and the ends of the wires are attached to the most distant post of the fence-section which is to be constructed, the frame A, with its attachments, being securely staked to the ground at the other end of such sections. The rollers F are then turned or revolved until the wires are taut. In order to keep the pairs of wires properly spaced and at the proper distance from the ground, they are also rove through suitable perforations, O, in a plank, P, which is tied or otherwise secured detachably to one of the fenceposts N directly in advance of the work, and which is shifted from time to time as the construction of the fence progresses. Pickets Q, of suitable construction, are now inserted between the wires of the several pairs, and the latter are twisted by turning levers L mounted thereon, thus tying or binding the said pickets securely in position. The wires, as

the work progresses, are to be securely stapled to the posts N, thus completing the fence. As

the pickets are being placed in position, the wire will be gradually paid out through the blocks H, which, however, by friction retard the paying out of the wires, so as to keep them constantly stretched and taut. The rear portion of the wires may be coiled and placed,for convenience, on the upper rear sides ofthe tension-blocks H H, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In a machine for constructing fences, the combination, with the tightening-frame having the transverse tightening-rolls provided with openings to receive the operating-levers, of the ropes or chains wound upon the said rolls, and'the friction-blocks swiveled to the ends-of the said ropes or chains, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In a machine for constructing fences, the combination, with the tightening-frame, of the wire-guides or friction-blocks consisting of blocks having longitudinal slots at their front ends, transverse perforations intersecting the said slots, pins or pegs seated in the said perforations, and swivel-links at-their rear ends, whereby they are connected to the :ropes or chains wound upon suitable tightening-drums, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a fence-making machine, the combination of the tightening-frame having suitable tightening rollers or drums, the ropes or chains wound upon the same, the wire-guides or friction blocks having longitudinal slots and transverse pegs through which the fence-wires are rove, said wire-guides being swiveled to the free ends of the ropes or chains wound upon the tightening-drums, and a guide-board secured detachably to one of the posts of the fence under construction, and having properly-spaced perforations through which the wires are rove in pairs, substantially asaand for the purposeherein set-forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing :as my own I have hereunto affixed mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES T. FAIRBURN. Witnesses:

J AS. I. ELLIs, R. L. ARMSTRONG. 

